Ststem for remotely deactivating sprinkler system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for a system, apparatus, and method of deactivating irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal. The irrigation system includes a control box coupled with a receiver for receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal. The signal is initiated in response to a drought condition. The received signal is decoded into degrees of severity of the drought. Under a severe drought condition, the irrigation system is deactivated by proper authority regardless of a user&#39;s intention. Under a drought condition that is not severe, the user may program the control box either to deactivate the irrigation system or to give control to a timer. In an embodiment of the present invention, under such condition, the user may partly deactivate the irrigation and partly give control to the timer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a watering sprinkler system. More specifically, the invention relates to the control of the sprinkler system in which the system is remotely deactivated when watering is prohibited by the authorities.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A simple irrigation or sprinkler system is depicted in FIG. 1 with a control box 102, control valve 104, sprinkler head 108, and water line 106 and electrical lines between the control box and valve. The control box contains a controller. The controller, also known as the timer, is the brain of the sprinkler system, telling the sprinkler what day, what time and exactly how much to water. When properly programmed, a timer automatically turns on and off the control valve for a precise amount of time water may pass through the valve to the sprinkler head 100. The control valve is electrically connected to and controlled by the timer. This dramatically conserves water.

[0005] Automatic control valves as described above are either electric or hydraulic, but almost everyone uses electric. The electric valve can operate on a 24 volt alternating current and is turned on and off by the timer or “controller”. The control valves may be manually operated or they can be automatically controlled. Manual control is simple, the valve has a handle you use to turn it on.

[0006] Drought is a period of dryness resulting from lack of rainfall. Drought can also occur when the demand for water in a growing urban community outstrips the resources. When a drought is prolonged or is estimated to last for a long period, many communities must resort to restrict water use for drought management. Water management is a common issue for rural and urban communities. Water management stresses water conservation of water usage and improving the efficiency of irrigation.

[0007] In our complex society, conservation and drought cannot be abated merely by restricting water use without a long-term plan. Nevertheless, communities are often left with short term water restriction until the main water supply can be replenished. The water restrictions are published to give notice to the users. Recommendation of water restrictions can be: (a) adjust water rates so excessive water users pay for the privilege of using too much water; (b) use a properly designed automatic irrigation system that has uniform water distribution; (c) encourage the use of an automatic rain shut-off device on sprinkler systems; (d) consider using drip or micro irrigation for trees and shrubs; and (e) publicize a suggested amount of time each day to water outdoor plants and lawns. However, some water users ignore such recommendations even in severe drought conditions with inappropriate use of the sprinkler system. Thus, a need exists for a method of enforcing watering prohibitions that eliminates the weakness of voluntary compliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] When drought conditions become severe or dangerous, the authorities may have to rely on extreme measure by prohibiting all uses of the sprinkler system throughout the drought area. Since each sprinkler system is individually controlled by it respective user, the authorities must physically monitor the area (i.e. neighborhoods) for prohibited uses of the sprinkler system. In such a compelling situation, there is a need for disabling or deactivating all sprinkler system in the area without interrupting other water usages. The policing effort to enforce the water restriction is lessened since the authorities do not have to physically monitor the area since sprinkler systems in the area are altogether disabled.

[0009] The present invention provides for a system, apparatus, and method of deactivating irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency (RF) signal. The irrigation system includes a control box coupled with a receiver for receiving the wide broadcast RF signal. The signal is initiated in response to a drought condition. The received signal is decoded into degrees of severity of the drought. Under a severe drought condition, the irrigation system is deactivated by proper authority regardless of a user's intention. Under a drought condition that is not severe, the user may program the control box either to deactivate the irrigation system or to give control to a timer. In an embodiment of the present invention, under such condition, the user may partly deactivate the irrigation and partly give control to the timer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of an existing simple sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 depicts a pictorial representation of a system for remotely deactivation a sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3A depicts a pictorial representation of a control box of the sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3B depicts a pictorial representation of a control box of the sprinkler system having a retro fitted receiver/controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 depicts a pictorial representation of a retrofitted receiver/controller coupled an existing sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 5 depicts a detailed pictorial representation of a receiver/controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart for deactivating a sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of a system for deactivation of sprinkler system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal for a community in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 8 depicts an alternate embodiment wherein a low strength control signal is broadcast to affect a single home.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference to FIG. 2, a pictorial representation of a system for remotely deactivating an irrigation system is depicted. The system 200 involves a transmitter 201 and sprinkler system 202. Transmitter 201 is a transmission tower capable of broadcasting a radio frequency (“RF”) to sprinkler system 202 within a controlled area (i.e. city, county, water district, etc.). Common radio transmissions includes amplitude modulation (“AM”) or frequency modulation (“FM”). One skilled in the art would appreciate that the transmission could include any other transmissions at any frequency. Sprinkler system 202 is an irrigation system to supply water into an area for watering such area (i.e. lawn, garden, etc.) Sprinkler system 202 also receives the RF signal from transmitter 201. When a severe drought condition is widely broadcasted, all sprinkler systems 202 within the controlled area would be deactivated.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3A, a pictorial representation of a control box 301 of sprinkler system 202 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Control box 301 sprinkler system 202 includes timer 302 and receiver/controller 303. Timer 302 allows a user to control when to turn on/off the sprinkler system 202. Receiver/controller 303 receives the RF signal and decodes the drought condition signal. Receiver/controller 303 allows remote control of sprinkler system 202 and may preempt timer's 302 control of the sprinkler system 202.

[0022] In another configuration, a pictorial representation of control box 304 of sprinkler system 202 having a retrofitted receiver/controller 305 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 3B. Most existing sprinkler system has a control box 304 for a local user to control through timer 306. The user may prefer to retrofit the existing control box 304 by installing a separate receiver/controller 305 rather than replacing a new control box including timer 302 and receiver/controller 303 as described in FIG. 3A.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, a pictorial representation of retrofitted receiver/controller 305 coupled to control box 301 within an existing sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Timer 401 generates input signals 402 to the sprinkler system. Input signals 402 from timer 401 feed into receiver/controller 305. Receiver/controller 305 generates output signals 403 which couple to control valves 404-407. Because the output signals 403 of receiver/controller 305 directly connect to control valves 404407, receiver/controller 305 preempts the control generated by timer 401. In contrast, in the existing sprinkler system before retrofitting by installing receiver/controller 305, input signals 402 would directly control and couple to control valves 404-407.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, a pictorial representation of receiver/controller 501 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Receiver/controller 501 includes input ground signal 502, input signals 503, relays 504, output signals 505, output ground signal 506, receiver 507, crystal 508, timer 509, controller 510, decoder 511, charger 512, batteries 513, charger 514 and power core 515. Input ground signal 502 is a common ground for the Receiver/controller 501 in reference to input signals 503. Input signals 503 are generated from a separate controller other than controller 510 of receiver/controller 501 to enable and disable the control valves. Controller 510 controls the control valve through switching relays 504. When a drought condition do not exists, controller 510 relent the control to the generator of input signals 503 by allowing input signals 503 conduitly flow through relays 504 to the control valves; output signals 505 are the as input signals 503. On the other hand, when a drought condition exists, controller 510 preempts all control of the control valves. Relays 504 are switched to open such that input signals 503 would not flow to the control valves; output signals 505 are generated from controller 510.

[0025] Controller 510 relies on the received information from receiver 507 to preempt control of the control valves. Receiver 507 receives wide broadcast RF signal. If the received signal is scramble for security, receiver 507 is capable of descrambling such signal. A wide broadcast RF signal is initiated when a drought condition exists. Receiver 507 is tunable to receive various frequency channel. In an embodiment of the present invention Receiver 507 frequency depends on the frequency of crystal 508. Crystal 508 is replaceable by proper authority. Furthermore, receiver 507 may receive the RF signal in real time or periodically. Timer 509 predefined the time period in which the receiver will be active for receiving the RF signal. The time period could be for real time, hourly, daily, etc.

[0026] Power core 515 provides for regulated electrical power to operate receiver/controller 501 from a mainpower supply. When the main power is lost, batteries 513 provide the backup power to receiver/controller 501. The charger 514 charges or recharges batteries 513 to full capacity when the main power is on.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart of a controller 510 for deactivating a sprinkler system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. When receiver 507 receives a signal about a drought condition (step 601), the signal is decoded by decoder 511 into degrees of severity of the drought. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the signal could be decoded into three degrees of severity of green, yellow, or red (steps 602 and 607). The least degree of severity is analogous to a green light which means there is not drought condition. Controller 510 receives the decoded signal. During a green signal, a user may normally use and set the watering time of the sprinkler system without any intervention by controller 510. The next degree of severity is a yellow for indicating a drought condition but not severe. At a received yellow condition (step 603), the user has an option to program controller 510 to set a default (step 604) for disabling the sprinkler system (step 606) as encouraged by the authority or to leave the user's setting as is (step 605). In an embodiment of the present invention, the user may program the default setting for each of the control valves under a yellow condition by controlling the switches of relays 504. The user still retains control over the sprinkler system with default setting program. When a drought condition occurs under a yellow condition, the user may restrict the area or time in which the sprinkler system will operate through programming controller 510. The highest degree of severity is indicated by a red condition (step 608). Red indicates that a severe drought or high wind is in effect and the authority should disable all irrigation or sprinkler system (step 610).

[0028] Referring to FIG. 7, a flowchart of a system for deactivation of sprinkler system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal for a community. The authority monitors the water level within the community (step 701). When the drought condition is determined to exist (step 702), the authority may authorize the modulating the information accordingly (step 703). The modulated signal may then be transmitted or widely broadcasted to the sprinkler systems within the area of the drought condition by RF signal (step 704).

[0029]FIG. 8 depicts a system 800 having a lower power portable transmitter 802 used to deactivate a single home's irrigation system 804. Unlike earlier embodiments having a fixed transmitter this system would have a portable transmitter. This would allow an enforcement officer to drive around a neighborhood or larger area and selectively deactivate an irrigation system.

[0030] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

We claim:
 1. A system for deactivation at least one irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal comprising: (a) at least one irrigation system having a control box; and (b) a controller coupled to the control box having a Radio Frequency receiver for receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Radio Frequency signal is initiated in response to a drought condition.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the control box further includes a decoder for decoding a status in the Radio Frequency signal.
 4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein the status is one of a severe drought condition, drought condition, and normal condition.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the controller deactivates the irrigation system in response to the severe drought condition.
 6. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the controller is programmable to deactivate a part of the irrigation system in response to the drought condition.
 7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmable.
 8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives the signal in real time.
 9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives the signal in a predefine period of time.
 10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives an amplitude modulated signal.
 11. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Radio Frequency receiver further includes a crystal.
 12. An irrigation apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a first irrigation control box having a first controller for controlling water valves; and a second irrigation control box having a second controller for controlling the water valves and a Radio Frequency receiver, wherein first control lines from the first controller couple to the second irrigation controller; wherein second control lines from the second controller couple to the water valves; and wherein the second controller preempts the first irrigation controller.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the second irrigation controller further comprising a decoder for decoding the status received from the Radio Frequency receiver.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the Radio Frequency receiver receives amplitude modulated signals.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the status is one of a severe drought condition, drought condition, and normal condition.
 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein the second controller deactivates the water valves in response to the severe drought condition.
 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the second controller is programmable.
 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the apparatus further comprising a frequency tuner for receiving a unique frequency.
 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the frequency tuner includes a crystal.
 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the apparatus further comprising a descrambler for security.
 21. A method for deactivation at least one irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal comprising: installing a wide broadcast Radio Frequency receiver in the irrigation system; receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal, wherein the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal is initiated in response to a drought condition; and decoding the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal for drought status.
 22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the drought status is selected from the group consisting of a severe drought condition, a drought condition, and a normal condition.
 23. The method as recited in claim 22 further comprising, in response to a severe drought condition, deactivating the irrigation system.
 24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal includes an amplitude modulation signal.
 25. A method for deactivation at least one irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal comprising: determining a drought status; modulating the drought status wherein the drought status includes the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal; and transmitting the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal to the irrigation system.
 26. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein the drought status is selected from the group consisting of a severe drought condition, a drought condition, and a normal condition.
 27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal includes an amplitude modulation signal. 